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is the Little Magic Stone
that
protects one from the
*Evil Eye*
This is a typical item, a specialty of Turkey
region you should keep one at home as a souvenir. It's called the
Boncuk (pronounced "bon-dschuk"),the Little Magic Stone that
protects one from the *Evil Eye* . You will see this blue glass
piece everywhere in Turkey. But what is behind this superstition?
The force of the evil eye (or
Nazar) is a widely accepted and feared random element in
Turkish daily life. The word *Nazar* denotes seeing or looking and
is often used in literally translated phrases such as "Nazar touched her," in reference to a young
woman, for example, who mysteriously goes blind.
Another typical scenario. A woman gives birth to a
healthy child with pink cheeks, all the neighbors come and see the
baby. They shower the baby with compliments, commentating especially
on how healthy and chubby the baby is. After getting so much
attention weeks later the baby is found dead in his crib. No
explanation can be found for the death. It is ascribed to Nazar.
Compliments made to a specific body part can result in Nazar. That's
why nearly every Turkish mother fixes with a safety pin a small
Boncuk on the child's clothes. Once a Boncuk is found cracked, it
means it has done his job and immediately a new one has to replace
it. |
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